In a shocking turn of events, Karolina Ilić has been disqualified from Dora 2026, leaving fans and critics alike questioning the strict rules of the competition. But here's where it gets controversial: the reason behind her disqualification isn’t a scandal or a rule violation in the traditional sense—it’s her citizenship status. Karolina, who was set to perform the song “Breathe Her In”, was removed from the lineup because she is not a Croatian citizen, failing to meet the requirements outlined in Article 3, Paragraph 5 of the Dora 2026 Competition Rules. This raises a thought-provoking question: should national song contests prioritize citizenship over artistic talent? Let’s dive deeper into this story and explore its implications.
Following her disqualification, the first reserve artist, Gabrijel Ivić, will now take the stage with the song “Light Up”. This last-minute change has reshuffled the lineup, bringing new energy to the competition. Below is the updated list of 24 artists and their songs competing in Dora 2026:
- Alen Đuras – “From Ashes to Flame”
- Ananda – “Dora”
- Cold Snap – “Mucho Macho”
- Devin – “Over Me”
- Ema Bubić – “Vrijeme za nas” (Time for us)
- Fenksta – “Memento mori”
- Fran Uccellini – “Ako bolje bude sutra” (If it’s better tomorrow)
- Gabrijel Ivić – “Light Up”
- Irma – “Ni traga” (No trace)
- Ivan Sever – “Crying Eyes”
- Jasmina Makota – “Higher”
- Kandžija – “3 ujutro” (3 a.m.)
- Lana Mandarić – “Tama” (Darkness)
- Lara Demarin – “Mantra”
- LELEK – “Andromeda”
- Lima Len – “Raketa” (Rocket)
- Marko Kutlić – “Neotuđivo” (Inalienable)
- Noelle – “Uninterrupted”
- Ritam Noir – “Profumi di mare” (Scents of the sea)
- Sergej – “Scream”
- Stela Rade – “Nema te” (You’re gone)
- ToMa – “Ledina” (Meadow)
- Tony Sky – “O ne!” (Oh no!)
- Zevin – “My Mind”
And this is the part most people miss: there’s also a backup list of three artists ready to step in if needed. Here they are:
- Dorian Stipčić – “Loved”
- Gabriela Braičić (Bria) – “Soho”
- Vanessa Kralj – “Tišina prije kiše” (Silence before the rain)
Dora 2026 is set to take place in February at the HRT studios in Zagreb, featuring two semi-finals and a grand final. The winner will represent Croatia at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, a prestigious opportunity for any artist. Speaking of Eurovision, let’s take a quick look back: Marko Bošnjak represented Croatia in 2025 with the song “Poison Cake”, finishing 12th in Semi-Final 1 with 28 points, narrowly missing the Grand Final. Will Croatia’s next representative fare better? Only time will tell.
Croatia’s Eurovision journey began in 1993, one of three countries debuting that year. Their best result came in 2024 when Baby Lasagna finished 2nd in Malmö with the song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”, scoring an impressive 547 points. After withdrawing in 2013 due to financial difficulties and poor results, Croatia returned in 2016, proving their resilience and commitment to the contest.
Now, here’s the question for you: Do you think citizenship requirements in national song contests are fair, or should talent be the only criterion? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a conversation!
